August 05, 2015

Philadelphia, PA- The Phillies (42-66) have started the second half of the season very strong; winning 13 of 16 games out of the box and took the first game of the series against the Dodgers (61-42). Entering the night, the Phillies were only a game behind the Marlins in the NL East. The Phillies sent Aaron Harang to the hill to face NL West leading Dodgers.

In the opening frame, the Dodgers got on the board fast with a three run blast off the bat of Yasiel Puig. The Phillies wouldn't score until the third inning. Maikel Franco hit his 20th double of the season driving in Cesar Hernandez.

Aaron Harang would work him into a jam in the fifth. After a walk by Rollins and hit by Kendrick to lead off the inning, Adrian Gonzalez drove in Rollins on ground ball which Ryan Howard made a slick diving stop on. Seven Dodgers batters came to the plate in the inning, but that was the only run scored.

In the eighth, Odubel Herrera singled to lead off the inning. Two batters later, Jeff "Mr. Clutch" Francoeur crushed a two run blast to pull the Phillies within two runs. That would be it for the Phillies as they would go on to lose 4 to 3.

July 31, 2015

Today was a day of emotional thanks to his beloved city of Philadelphia from former Phillie pitcher Cole Hamels. After giving his final goodbyes in a press conference today, Cole and Heidi Hamels took out a full page in this Saturday Philadelphia Inquirer thanking the fans.

This message reads:

"You have given us memories that will last a lifetime. Philadelphia is the 'City of Brotherly Love' and we cannot thank you enough for the love that you have shown our family during our time here.

To the many fans, friends, and family that we have made here, we are eternally grateful. Philadelphia is where we made ouf first home and where we started our family, and it will always hold a special place in our hearts.

We wish the Philadelphia Phillies, their fans and the entire city of Philadelphia the very best. Thank you again for being an amazing part of our lives! We will never forget you!"

Cole and Heidi Hamels"

Although Hamels is now a member of the Rangers organization, he will always have a special place in many fans heart.

July 29, 2015

Toronto, Canada- Phillies (38-63) have started the second half very strong winning nine of ten games out of the box. The Phillies sent Jerome Williams to the hill to face which is agruably best offense in major baseball.

Troy Tulowitzki would get the Blue Jays on the board in the third with a moon shot. The home run was his first hit in his Jay's debut. The Jays would add on in the fifth with Jose Baustista singling in Tulo to make it 3-0. Russell Martin followed by doubled in Baustista.

Troy Tulowitzki would continue the offensive surge by the Jays in the sixth with a double to the Blue Jays a six to nothing lead. Jays would get another run in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Chris Colabello. The Phillies would finally get on the board in the seventh. Darin Ruf reached first on an error by Russell Martin after being struck out. Domonic Brown would score on the play. In the bottom of the inning, the Blue Jays got the run right back on a double off the bat of Ryan Goins scoring Kevin Pillar. In the eighth, Ryan Howard singled in Revere to cut the lead to six, but the Blue Jays offense would prove to be too much for the Phillies pitchers tonight. The Phillies and Jays split the series at a game a piece.

July 19, 2015

Philadelphia, PA- Phillies (32-62) started the second half with two wins out of the box over the Marlins (38-54). The Phillies sent Cole Hamels to the hill with scouts coming from all over to watch what could be his last start in a Phillies uniform.

Marlins would strike first in the second. Miguel Rojas singled in Adeiny Hechavarria for the first run. The Marlins added to that with a safety squeeze by Dan Haren plating Cole Gillespie. The lead wouldn't last long for the Marlins. In the bottom of inning, Ryan Howard led off with a 409 foot blast for his 350th career home run. Two batters later, Freddy Galvis crushed one, homering in Odubel Herrera. Ben Revere would add to the lead doubling in Carlos Ruiz. The Phillies finished the second inning scoring five runs.

With all the pressure on Hamels' shoulders, he continued struggle in the third inning. Christen Yelich singled in Martin Prado, Hechavarria doubled in Yelich, and Gillespie singled in Hechavarria, all to tie the game at five. After three innings, Hamels day was done having struggled in his last two starts.

The Phillies would recapture the lead in the seventh with a double off the bat of Cesar Hernandez scoring Jeff Francoeur. In the eighth, Ken Giles would struggle after being dominant lately. Jeff Mathis hit a sacrifice fly to Francoeur to score Gillespie. Francoeur would just miss throwing him out at the plate. Ichiro Suzuki would give the Marlins the lead with a single scoring Derek Dietrich.

Carlos Ruiz would start the bottom of the ninth by working a walk off A.J. Ramos. Jeff Franocuer would then follow with a WALK OFF blast to give the Phillies the win. Phillies complete the sweep over the Marlins to start the second half of the season.

July 11, 2015

After being blown out by the Giants (44-43) last night, the Phillies (29-60) will look for little bit of "revenge." On Friday, the Giants were powered to victory with two home runs and nine earned runs off Cole Hamels. In the game, Hamels had his shortest outing of the year. The Phillies only scored two runs overall, including Carlos Ruiz's home run in the fourth, and would go on to lose 15-2.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

Philadelphia Phillies (29-60)

San Fransisco Giants (44-43)

RHP

David Buchanan

RHP

Ryan Vogelsong

(0-5, 8.75 ERA)

(6-6, 4.10 ERA)

David Buchanan will return to the mound after suffering a gruesome ankle injury after being sent to the minors. Buchanan was hit around in his last major league start against the St. Louis Cardinals, going four and one-third ubbubgs, giving up seven runs on eight hits, only striking out one. The Phillies would lose that game, nine to three. Overall, Buchanan had a rough month of April, with a 0-5 record. In 24.2 innings of work, Buchanan gave up 24 runs on 32 hits,with an ERA of 8.76 for the month of April. Opponents were hitting .323 against him in that span.

Ryan Vogelsong was ejected in his last start after just four innings. He was tossed for arguing balls and strikes against the Nationals. In his 15 starts in 2015, Vogelsong was 6-6 with 4.10 ERA. His last start against the Phillies, he pitched 6.2 innings and gave up five runs on seven hits. Opponents are hitting .246 off him this season.

June 28, 2015

Philadelphia, PA- Phillies played two today, losing game one 3 to 2. Both Phillies runs came off the bat of Jeff Francoeur.

Game two was a much different story for the Phillies offense. Phillies eight runs on 16 hits. Herrera, Hernandez, Franco, Brown, and Asche all had multi-hit games for the Phillies. Severino Gonzalez went five and one-third innings, giving up four runs, four earned. Nationals starter, Tanner Roark,went three and a third innings giving up eight runs, on 12 hits.

The Phillies grabbed an early lead in the second inning, with Severino Gonzalez hitting an RBI groundout. Phillies would score three more runs on RBI singles by Odubel Herrera, Maikel Franco, and Domonic Brown. Nationals would get three back in the forth, with a RBI single by Clint Robinson and a two run home run by Ian Desmond. Phillies would score again in the bottom of the fourth with a RBI singles from Maikel Franco and Darin Ruf as well as a sacrifice fly from Carlos Ruiz.

Severino Gonzalez would pitch five and one-third innings, allowing four earned runs, which was good enough for the win. Jeanmar Gomez surrendered the Nationals' fifth run, which was good enough for the win.

June 26, 2015

Philadelphia, PA- The same day that Ryno Sandberg called it quits, Nationals took game one over the Phillies.

The Phillies offense managed just two runs this evening. Hernandez, Brown, Asche, Revere and Galvis recorded a hits in the game for the Phillies. Aaron Harang went six innings, giving up five runs, four earned. Nationals starter, Scherzer, had a no hitter in his last start and carried that over to today. He carried a perfected game into the fifth inning.

Overall, Scherzer went eight innings giving up two runs, on five hits. The Nationals grabbed a run in the first inning, with Wilson Ramos hitting a RBI infield single. Nationals would get two more in the fifth, with sacrifice fly by Espinosa and fielding error by Brown. Nationals would score again in the sixth with a two run shot by Matt den Dekker.

The Phillies would break up the perfect game with a single by Galvis in the fifth and would get on the board in the sixth. Brown doubled in Hernandez to score the first run for the Phillies. The Phillies would score again in the eighth on Ben Revere's first home run of the season. Brown ended the game getting picked off after ignoring the stop sign by third base coach, John Mizerock.

The Phillies got into to deep of a hole early in the game, and were not able to come back. The Phillies would go on to lose 5-2.

June 24, 2015

Going for the sweep versus Yankees (38-33), the Phillies (26-47) will look to win their fourth in a row during a mid-week matinee. On Tuesday, the Phillies were powered to victory with five RBIs and two home runs by Maikel Franco. While the Delaware Valley got rocked by storms, the Phillies won game two powered by two five run innings. The Phils hope for another strong outing from ace, Cole Hamels, in what could be one of his final starts in a Phillies uniform.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

Philadelphia Phillies (26-47)

New York Yankees (38-33)

LHP

Cole Hamels

RHP

Ivan Nova

(5-5, 2.96 ERA)

(0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Cole Hamels will return to the mount after being scratched from last start due a hamstring strain. Hamels was very solid in his last start against the Pittsburgh Pirates, going to seven innings, giving up no runs on four hits, striking out twelve. The Phillies would go on to lose one nothing in extra innings. Overall, Hamels has had a solid month, despite having a 0-1 record. In 20 innings of work, Hamels has given up seven runs on 18 hits, leading to an ERA of 3.15 for the month of June. Opponents are hitting .228 against him in that span.

Ivan Nova will being making his 2015 debut after coming off Tommy John surgery. Nova is coming off three rehab starts. In his final rehab start, Nova only went five inning giving up five runs on seven hits. He also walked two and hit a batter. In his four starts in 2014, Nova was 2-2 with 8.27 ERA. Over his major league career, opponents are hitting .273 against him.

June 10, 2015

Cincinnati, OH- Reds complete the sweep and take the season series four games to two.

The Phillies offense managed just two runs this afternoon. Ben Revere, Jeff Francoeur and Cameron Rupp all recorded a multi-hit game for the Phillies. Jerome Williams went six innings, giving up four runs. Reds starter, Moscot, also went six innings, giving up two runs. His performance earned him his first win of his career. The Reds put up a four sport in the first inning, with Brayan Pena hitting a RBI single and Ivan De Jesus hitting a three run home run. Phillies were able to get one run back in the second by Cameron Rupp singling into left field driving in Ryan Howard. Phillies would score again in the fourth with Cesar Hernandez scoring on Cameron Rupp's double. Reds added to their lead in the seventh, after Brayan Pena singled in Todd Frazier.

The Phillies had their chances, but were ultimately put into to deep of a hole early in the game. The Phillies would go on to lose 5-2.

May 31, 2015

Philadelphia, PA- Rockies complete the sweep and win season series against the Phillies, five games to two.

Phillies offense was rather quiet again this afternoon. Cody Asche and Odubel Herrera were the only two players for the Phillies to have a multi hit games. Jerome Williams lasted five innings giving up four runs. Rockies starter, Jordan Lyles, only lasted 1.1 innings due to injury. Rockies long man, Chris Rusin, took up the slack, pitching 4.2 no run innings. The Rockies got on the board in the first inning, with Nolan Arenado's two run home run. Phillies were able to get one run back in the second by Cameron Rupp doubling to the right field fence driving in Cody Asche. Rockies added to their lead in the fifth, after DJ LeMahieu hit the Rockies second two run shot of the game.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Phillies had a chance to get back into the game with the bases loaded, no outs. The Rockies proceeded by striking out Cameron Rupp, Darin Ruf, and Ben Revere. Ultimately the Rockies bullpen were too much for the Phillies as they were defeated 4-1.